KR102151778B1 - Flexible electronic devices - Google Patents

Abstract

A flexible electronic device may be provided. A flexible electronic device can include a flexible display, a flexible housing, and one or more flexible internal components configured to allow the flexible electronic device to be deformed. The flexible display can include a flexible display layer, a flexible touch-sensitive layer, and a flexible display cover layer. The flexible housing can be multiple stable flexible housings having one or more stable positions. The flexible housing can include a configurable support structure that provides a rigid support structure for the flexible housing when coupled. The flexible internal component can include a flexible battery, a flexible printed circuit, or other flexible component. A flexible battery may include a flexible portion or a rigid portion, or may include a lubricating separation layer that provides flexibility for the flexible battery. The flexible printed circuit may include a flexible portion and an opening that allows the rigid portion or some rigid portion to bend relative to another rigid portion.

Description

Flexible electronic devices {FLEXIBLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES}

This application claims priority to US patent application Ser. No. 13/250,227, filed Sep. 30, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

This relates generally to electronic devices, and more particularly, to flexible electronic devices.

Electronic devices such as portable computers and cellular telephones are often provided with rigid components. Rigid components are often rigid housing structures, rigid displays such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs), rigid display cover layers formed of plastic or glass, rigid internal components such as rigid printed circuit boards, batteries, and other electrical components, or other rigid components. It contains structural components. Electronic devices are commonly designed to have a rigid outer structure.

Flexible display technologies are available that allow the display to bend. For example, flexible displays can be formed using flexible organic light emitting diode (OLED) display technology. Electronic devices with flexible displays are commonly provided with a rigid housing structure or other rigid structure forming a rigid electronic device.

Rigid electronic devices may be susceptible to damage from impactful events such as the device falling over a hard surface.

Therefore, it may be desirable to be able to provide an improved electronic device.

An electronic device may be provided having a bendable portion.

A flexible electronic device can include a flexible housing member and a flexible internal component. The flexible housing member can include a flexible device housing. The rigid and flexible internal components can be mounted within the flexible housing. The flexible internal component can include a flexible display such as an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display. The flexible display may be mounted on the flexible display cover layer. The flexible display cover layer can be mounted on the flexible device housing. The flexible internal component may include a flexible circuit board such as a printed circuit having one or more flexible portions and an integrated circuit formed on the flexible substrate. Flexible internal components may include a flexible battery such as a battery having rigid and flexible portions, a battery formed of multiple rigid portions joined by flexible joints, and a battery formed of a flexible battery layer.

The flexible housing member may comprise a housing member having rigid and flexible portions, or a housing member that is substantially all flexible. The flexible housing member may include a hinge or an elastomeric portion to bend the flexible housing member. The flexible housing member may have a portion providing flexibility in one dimension and another portion providing stiffness in another dimension. The flexible housing member may have one or more multiple stable flexure regions, such as a dual stable flexure region, to provide more than one stable configuration for the flexible electronic device.

The flexible housing member can include a configurable inner support structure having a flexible and rigid configuration. The flexible housing member may include a fluid filled bag or an air filled bag for stiffening or bending the device alternately.

The flexible electronic device can include a flexure sensing component to detect deformation of the flexible electronic device. Deformation of the flexible electronic device sensed by the flexure sensing component can provide user input to the electronic device. For example, twisting the flexible electronic device can change the mode of operation of the device, can be interpreted by the device as a command to the electronic game system, and can turn the device on or off.

Because flexible electronic devices can bend or deform while absorbing impact, they are better able to withstand damage received during impact events such as falls. This type of deformation can reduce the amount of impact received by other components of the flexible device by increasing the impact duration.

Additional features of the present invention, its characteristics, and various advantages will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description for carrying out the invention.

<Figure 1>
1 is a perspective view of an exemplary flexible electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
<Figure 2>
2 is a diagram of an exemplary set of display layers that may be used to form a flexible display according to an embodiment of the present invention.
<Figure 3>
3 is a side view of a cross section of an exemplary flexible electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
<Figure 4>
4 is a side view of an exemplary flexible main logic board cross section formed of a flexible printed circuit board with electrical components in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
<Figure 5>
5 is a side view of an exemplary rigid flexible main logic board cross-section having electrical components and a flexible printed circuit board in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
<Figure 6a>
6A is a plan view of an exemplary main logic board with cutouts to provide flexibility in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
<Figure 6b>
6B is a plan view of an exemplary elongated main logic board with cutouts to provide flexibility in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
<Figure 7>
7 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an exemplary main logic substrate of the type shown in FIG. 6A with cutouts to provide flexibility in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
<Figure 8>
8 is a side view of an exemplary flexible battery cross-section having a flexible and rigid portion in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
<Figure 9>
9 is a plan view of an exemplary flexible battery of the type shown in FIG. 8 with flexible and rigid portions in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
<Figure 10>
10 is a perspective view of an exemplary flexible battery having a flexible and rigid portion in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
<Figure 11>
11 is a side view of a partial cross-section of an exemplary flexible battery according to an embodiment of the present invention.
<Figure 12>
12 is a side view in partial cross-section of an exemplary flexible battery having a lubricating separation layer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
<Figure 13>
13 is a side view of an exemplary flexible battery cross-section with an interlocking layer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
<Figure 14>
14 is an end view of an exemplary flexible housing cross section with flexible and rigid portions in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
<Figure 15>
15 is a perspective view of an exemplary flexible housing having different flexible portions in different dimensions in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
<Figure 16>
16 is a perspective view of an exemplary flexible housing of the type shown in FIG. 15 showing how a flexible housing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention can be less flexible in a first dimension than in a second dimension.
<Figure 17>
17 is a side view of an exemplary dual stable flexible housing cross section with multiple stable positions in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
<Figure 18>
18 is a rear perspective view of an exemplary flexible housing having multiple multiple stability portions providing two or more multiple stability positions in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
<Figure 19>
19 is a rear perspective view of a portion of an exemplary flexible housing in the vicinity of a dual stable portion in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
<Figure 20>
20 is an exemplary diagram showing two multiple stable positions of a flexible housing according to an embodiment of the present invention.
<Figure 21>
21 is a perspective view of a rigid flexible printed circuit that can be used in a flexible electronic device having a flexible housing with multiple multiple stable portions according to an embodiment of the present invention.
<Figure 22>
22 is a perspective side view of an exemplary flexible electronic device in a triple folded closed state in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
<Figure 23>
23 is a perspective side view of an exemplary flexible electronic device in a partially folded state in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
<Figure 24>
24 is a perspective side view of an exemplary flexible electronic device in a folded closed state in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
<Figure 25>
25 is a side view of an exemplary flexible electronic device cross section having an expandable flexible housing with multiple stable positions in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
<Figure 26>
26 is a perspective view of an exemplary configurable support member including a locking spine system for providing flexible and rigid support for a flexible electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
<Figure 27>
27 is a side view of an exemplary flexible housing cross-section with a configurable support member including a bag-like system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The flexible electronic device may be provided with flexible internal and external components that allow the device to bend. Flexible internal components can include flexible displays, flexible batteries, flexible circuit boards, or other flexible electrical components or support components.

The flexible external component can include a flexible display cover layer, a flexible housing, or other flexible external component. The flexible interior and exterior components can include regions that are relatively more flexible and regions that are less flexible. A flexible device can have a relatively more flexible portion and a relatively less flexible portion. A flexible device may be relatively more flexible in one dimension than in another.

The flexible display includes a flexible display layer (e.g., a flexible organic light emitting diode array), a flexible touch sensing layer (e.g., a polymer sheet with a transparent capacitor electrode array for a capacitive touch sensor), a flexible substrate It may be formed of a flexible layer such as a layer or the like. If desired, these flexible layers are covered with a flexible cover layer (e.g., a flexible plastic or flexible thin glass layer) or a flexible support structure (e.g., a flexible support structure on the underside of the flexible layer). Can be supported by

The cover layer may be provided with openings to provide access to the flexible layer of the display. For example, the cover layer can have an opening that allows the button member to move relative to the cover glass layer. As the button member moves within the opening, the underlying portion of the flexible display can be deformed (eg, to allow operation of the associated switch).

Electronic devices also include user interface components (input and output components) such as buttons, microphones, speakers, piezoelectric actuators (to receive electrical input from the user or give tactile feedback to the user) or other actuators such as vibrators and pressure sensors, And other components may be provided. These components can be mounted under a portion of the flexible display.

User interface components may be mounted under the flexible display or integrated within the flexible display. The deformable nature of the flexible display may allow the user to interact with the user interface component (i.e., sound) by moving the display to contact the user interface component or causing the display to bend locally (e.g., sound To pass through the flexible display or allow the air pressure of the external environment to be measured by the internal pressure sensor). If desired, a portion of the flexible display may form a membrane portion of the electrical component. Components provided with a membrane formed as part of a flexible display include microphones, laser microphones, pressure sensors, speakers, and the like.

The user interface component can be configured to detect all or partial deformations of the electronic device. By processing the software associated with the device, the deformation detected by the user interface component can be interpreted as a user input to the device.

For example, the flexible device can be folded so that the flexible device can be folded for storage (eg, in a pocket). The user interface component can be configured to detect that the device is folded and put the device into a standby mode or an off mode. The user interface component may be configured to detect an inactive deformation of the device (e.g., a folded or open state of the device) or may be configured to detect an active deformation of the device (e.g. Twisting, squeezing, bending or other active deformation).

For another example, the user interface component can be configured to detect a twist of the flexible electronic device. The user interface component turns the device on or off, enters an active or standby mode, answers a cellular phone call, launches a software application, or adjusts the volume associated with the media's audio or video playback for a detected twist. It may be configured to initiate a reaction from the device, such as changing, starting or stopping audio playback of the medium.

An exemplary flexible electronic device of the type that may be provided with a flexible internal or external component that allows the device to bend is shown in FIG. 1. Electronic device 10 may be a portable electronic device or other suitable electronic device. For example, electronic device 10 may be a laptop computer, tablet computer, wrist watch device, some small device such as a pendant device, or other wearable or miniature device, a cellular telephone, a media player, or the like.

Device 10 may comprise a flexible housing such as housing 12. Flexible housing 12, often referred to as a case, is a plastic, thin glass, fiber component, thin metal (e.g., aluminum, etc.), fabric, a deformable material such as silicone, other suitable material, or It can be formed in combination. In some cases, portions of the housing 12 may be formed of a dielectric material or other low conductivity material. In other cases, the housing 12 or at least a portion of the structure constituting the housing 12 may be formed of metal elements.

The housing 12 is a matching mold suitable for filling the usable volume of the device 10 (e.g., a flexible deformable plastic, silicone or bonded to an internal component such as a battery, printed circuit or other component). Other deformable materials) or the housing 12 may be adhered to an internal component or display using a lock, adhesive, welding, or other adhesive member or feature. Housing 12 may include coupling features for bonding other flexible or rigid components of device 10. The flexible housing 12 may be formed of a single flexible structure formed of a deformable material, or may include several housing structures formed of a deformable material.

Device 10 may have a flexible display such as flexible display 14. The flexible display 14 can be configured to bend with the flexible housing 12 as shown in FIG. 1. The flexible display 14 may be formed of several layers of material. These layers may include a touch sensor layer, such as a layer on a pattern of indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes or other suitable transparent electrodes deposited to form a capacitive touch sensor array. These layers may also include a layer comprising an array of display pixels. The touch sensor layer and display layer may be formed using a polymeric flexible sheet or other substrate having a thickness of 10 microns to 0.5 mm or other suitable thickness (such as).

The display pixel array may be, for example, an OLED array comprising rows and columns of organic light emitting diode (OLED) display pixels. Other types of flexible display pixel arrays (eg, electronic ink displays, etc.) can also be formed. The use of OLED technology to form flexible display 14 is often described herein as an example. However, this is just an example. The flexible display 14 can be formed using any suitable flexible display technology. The use of flexible displays based on OLED technology is just an example.

In addition to these functional display layers (ie, an OLED array and an optional touch sensor array), the display 14 may comprise one or more structural layers. For example, display 14 may be covered with a flexible cover layer and/or mounted on a support structure (eg, a flexible support). The adhesive layer can be used to attach the flexible display layers to each other and can be used to mount the flexible display layer to the flexible structure layer.

The input/output components may be mounted in any suitable location under the display (eg, near the periphery of the display, the center of the display, etc.). If desired, one or more openings can be provided in the cover layer and electronic components can be mounted under the openings. For example, the rigid cover layer may have an opening for a button 17 or a speaker port opening for a speaker, such as a speaker 19 (eg, for an ear speaker for a user). The device 10 may also have other openings (e.g., a volume button, a ring button, a sleep/power button such as button 16, and a display 14 and/or a housing ( 12), openings for switches such as switch 15, openings for audio jacks, data port connectors, removable media slots, etc.).

Buttons 17, 16 and switch 15 may be based on a dome switch or other switch circuit. The buttons 17 and 16 and the switch 15 may include a button member forming a push button (for example, a momentary button), a slider switch, a rocker switch, or the like. The switch 15 is used to change the operating mode of the device 10 (e.g., to turn on, turn off the ringtone of the cellular phone, or convert it to vibrate mode) or to change the physical properties of the device 10. Can be used (eg, converting the housing 12 from a flexible state to a rigid state using an internal stiffening structure). The switch 15 may be an electronic switch or a mechanical switch (eg, an inner locking skeleton, an inner pocket system, an inner configurable support structure, etc.) that engages the inner rigidity structure associated with the housing 12.

The device 10 may be completely inside the device 10, but an interface configuration that receives input from the user or the surrounding environment through physical interaction with the flexible display 14 or other parts of the flexible device 10 Elements such as elements 24 and 26 may be included. Interface components (24, 26) are arranged under the flexible display (14) or the flexible housing (12) so that the flexible display (14) or the flexible housing (12) is attached to the component (24, 26). It must be deformed to make contact, or, if desired, may be arranged to keep in contact with the flexible display 14. The components 24 and 26 may be a proximity sensor, a pressure sensor, a touch sensor (e.g., part of the touch-sensitive display 14), an optical sensor, a magnetic sensor, a capacitive sensor, or at least a portion of the device 10 It could be other types of sensors that are configured to detect deformation.

The interface components 24, 26 can be arranged such that deformation of the flexible device 10 can activate the internal components 24, 26. For example, the interface component 26 is a flexible housing 12 (as shown by the dotted line 18) and the squeeze of the flexible device 10 to deform the flexible display 14 constitutes the interface. It may include a switch that is arranged to activate the element 26 (eg, actuating the switch by moving a portion of the housing 12 to contact the switch). The interface component 24 may be configured to sense the relative position of the interface component 26. The relative positions of internal components such as the components 24 and 26 may provide information about the active flexing or location of the device 10. Information about the active flexing or location of the device 10 may be used to activate internal components 24 and 26 or may activate a software application running on a processor associated with the device 10.

For example, the inner component 24 can be configured to sense the distance of the inner component 24 from the inner component 26. The internal component 24 may be configured to change the operating mode of the device 10 when the distance between the internal component 24 and the internal component 26 falls below or exceeds a predetermined threshold. (For example, when the distance is less than a predetermined threshold, the display 14 is made to sleep, and when the distance exceeds a predetermined threshold, the display 14 is turned on, or the distance is a predetermined threshold. If it becomes smaller, turn off the device 10, etc.).

An exploded perspective view of an exemplary display is shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the flexible display 14 can be formed by stacking several layers including a flexible display layer 14A, a touch sensing layer 14B, and a cover layer 14C. Display 14 may also include other layers of material such as adhesive layers, optical films, or other suitable layers. The flexible display layer 14 is an image formed of light emitting diodes (LEDs), organic LEDs (OLEDs), plasma cells, electronic ink elements, liquid crystal display (LCD) components, or other suitable image pixel structures suitable for a flexible display. It may contain pixels.

The touch sensing layer 14B may include a capacitive touch electrode such as the horizontal transparent electrode 320 and the vertical transparent electrode 340. The touch sensing layer 14B is generally formed of one or more touches or near touches on the touch sensing layer 14B based on a capacitive sensor, a resistive sensor, an optical sensor, an acoustic sensor, an inductive sensor, or a force sensor. It can be configured to detect the location.

Software and/or hardware may be used to process measurements of detected touches to track and identify one or more actions. The operation may correspond to a static or non-static, single or multiple, touch or proximity touch on the touch sensing layer 14B. Basically, one or more fingers in a specific manner, such as tapping, pressing, rolling, rubbing, twisting, reorienting, or pressing with various pressures on the touch-sensitive layer 14B, simultaneously, adjacently, or in succession. Alternatively, the operation may be performed by moving another object. Movement is characterized by pinching, sliding, swiping, rotating, flexing, dragging, or tapping movements using or between any other finger or fingers Can be, but is not limited thereto. A single action may be performed by one or more users, with one or more hands, or any combination thereof.

The cover layer 14C may be formed of plastic, thin glass (sometimes referred to as display cover glass), or other flexible transparent material. If desired, an opaque masking layer such as black ink may be provided on the inner surface of the peripheral inactive portion of the cover layer 14C.

The touch sensitive flexible display section 14AB may be formed of a display pixel array layer 14A and an optional touch sensor layer 14B.

3 is a side view in cross section of an exemplary embodiment of a device 10 with flexible internal and external components. 3, the internal and external flexible components of the device 10 are flexible displays such as flexible display 14, flexible housings such as flexible housing 12, flexible printed circuits ( 30), and a flexible battery such as flexible battery 34. As shown in FIG. 3, if desired, flexible battery 34 may include one or more battery cells or battery packs, such as charge storage component 60.

The flexible printed circuit 30 may be a flexible printed circuit board, a rigid printed circuit board having one or more flexible portions formed from a layer of a flexible printed circuit board, or a rigid printed circuit board having a rigid portion that is bent relative to another rigid portion. It may be a circuit board. Integrated circuits, power management units, volatile and nonvolatile memory storage devices, discrete elements such as resistors, capacitors, and inductors, and other electronic components 32 may be mounted on the flexible printed circuit 30.

Device 10 may be provided with one or more batteries, such as battery 34. The battery 34 may be mounted in the flexible housing 12, mounted in the flexible printed circuit 30, or otherwise mounted in the flexible housing 12.

A device, such as device 10 including internal and external flexible components, may be a flexible device that can be bent or deformed as indicated by arrow 36. The housing 12, display 14, logic board 30, and battery 34 have one or more preferred states of the flexible device 10 and have an external bending force such as a bending force in the direction of arrow 36. Can be configured to return to one of the preferred states when there is no force. This is just an example. If desired, the flexible device 10 may have no preferred state and may be configured to be in any bent, bent or substantially flat state.

As shown in FIG. 3, the flexible display 14 may include a curved sidewall portion 38 that bends to mount adjacent a flexible housing sidewall, such as a sidewall portion 12S of the housing 12. The housing 12 can include a rear portion such as a flexible rear housing wall 12R that provides a flexible rear surface to the device 10. The flexible housing 12, the flexible display 14, the flexible battery 34 and the flexible printed circuit 30 show that the flexible device 10 is, for example, in the xy plane, as shown in FIG. Can be allowed to bend in the z dimension outside of The flexible housing 12, the flexible display 14, the flexible battery 34 and the flexible printed circuit 30 are about an axis parallel to the y axis (shown in Fig. 3), and an axis parallel to the x axis. And/or about an axis parallel to the z axis.

4 shows a side view of a partial cross-section of an exemplary flexible printed circuit board, such as flexible printed circuit 30. As shown in FIG. 4, the printed circuit 30 may be formed of a flexible printed circuit (also referred to herein as a flexible circuit). In the configuration of the printed circuit 30 formed of a flexible circuit, the component 32 may be mounted on a flexible portion of the printed circuit 30.

The flexible printed circuit 30 may include patterned conductive traces (eg, conductive traces on a flexible sheet of a substrate such as a polyimide sheet).

5 shows a side view of a partial cross-section of an exemplary printed circuit 30. As shown in FIG. 5, the printed circuit 30 may be formed of a rigid-flex circuit having a rigid portion such as rigid portion 40 and a flexible portion such as flexible portion 42. The flexible portion 42 and rigid portion 40 of the printed circuit 30 may include multiple layers. A multilayer printed circuit such as printed circuit 30 may often be referred to as a printed circuit board (PCB) stack or a PCB stack.

The layers of the printed circuit 30 are fiber glass filled epoxy (e.g., as a hard layer of a PCB lamination) and polyimide (e.g., as a flexible layer of a PCB lamination), FR-2 (phenolic cotton paper), FR -3 (cotton paper and epoxy), FR-4 (woven glass and epoxy), FR-5 (woven glass and epoxy), FR-6 (matt glass and polyester), G-10 (woven glass and epoxy), CEM -1 (cotton paper and epoxy), CEM-2 (cotton paper and epoxy), CEM-3 (woven glass and epoxy), CEM-4 (woven glass and epoxy), CEM-5 (woven glass and polyester), phenolic resin , Polystyrene, polyimide, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) impregnated paper, plastics, other polymers, dielectrics such as ceramics, or other suitable dielectrics.

The layers of the printed circuit 30 may include an adhesion layer such as a prepreg layer (ie, a layer pre-impregnated with fibers and resins). Layers of copper or other conductive material may be formed on the surface of the other layers.

The flexible portion 42 is a patterned conductive trace (e.g., polyimide) that transmits signals between rigid portions 40, components such as component 32, or other components of device 10. Conductive traces on a flexible sheet of a substrate, such as a sheet).

6A shows a plan view of an exemplary printed circuit 30 formed from a rigid printed circuit board having an opening that allows a rigid portion to bend with respect to another rigid portion. As shown in FIG. 6A, the printed circuit 30 may be provided with one or more patterned openings, such as openings 44. The opening 44 may be cut, etched, machined or otherwise formed in the printed circuit 30. For example of FIG. 6A, the printed circuit 30 is a rigid circuit board having a portion such as a rigid portion 48 configured to be bent relative to another rigid portion such as a central rigid portion 50 of the printed circuit 30 ( 40).

As shown in FIG. 6A, the rigid central portion 50 may include an integrated circuit such as a central processing unit 46. The central processing unit (CPU) 46 protects the CPU 46 from damage due to bending of the printed circuit 30 (e.g., to protect the CPU 46 from being separated from the printed circuit 30). To) can be mounted on the rigid central portion 50. Other components 32 may be mounted on rigid portion 50 and/or rigid portion 48 of printed circuit 30. The rigid central portion 50 may have some internal flexibility. The rigid portion 48 may have relatively more flexibility with respect to the rigid central portion 50 than the rigid central portion 50 having internal flexibility.

The flexible printed circuit 30 of Fig. 6A formed of a substantially square rigid printed circuit board having an opening 44 and a CPU 46 mounted in a central portion is merely an example. If desired, the CPU may be mounted at different locations on the printed circuit 30 and the printed circuit 30 may have a different geometry.

For example, FIG. 6B shows an elongated printed circuit 30 formed from a rigid printed circuit board having a rigid portion 48 separated by a patterned opening, such as an opening 34. As shown in FIG. 6B, CPU 46 may be formed over one of the rigid portions 48. Electronic components such as component 32 may be mounted on a common rigid portion 48 with CPU 46 or on another rigid portion 48. The rigid portion 48 remains substantially flat as shown in FIG. 7, while the opening 44 of FIGS. 6A and 6B has the rigid portion 48 at the center portion 50 (FIG. 6A) or another rigid portion ( 48) (Fig. 6A and Fig. 6B) can be bent.

Fig. 7 is a side view of a cross section of a flexible printed circuit of the type shown in Fig. 6a, taken along line A of Fig. 6a. 6A, the force applied on the printed circuit 30 (indicated by the arrow 59) causes the rigid portion 48 of the printed circuit 30 to bend relative to the central portion 50. can do. Where there is such a bending force, the rigid central portion 50 may bend less than that of the rigid portion 48 with respect to the rigid central portion 50. The rigid central portion 50 may have a stiffness that ensures that the portion 54 (eg, a portion of the central portion 50 comprising an onboard circuit such as CPU 46) remains substantially flat.

Where there is no bending force, the rigid portion 48 may form part of a flat printed circuit in the x-y plane (as indicated by the dotted line 57). Under a bending force, such as a bending force in the direction indicated by arrow 59, the flexible printed circuit 30 can be bent out of the x-y plane. The rigid portion 48 may be bent more about an axis parallel to the y-axis than the central portion 50 is bent about that axis. Providing a rigid central portion 50 that ensures that portion 54 remains substantially flat can protect the CPU 46 from damage or separation from the printed circuit 30.

As shown in Fig. 7, an opening such as opening 44 of the printed circuit 30 has a rigid portion 48 that is substantially flat, while the rigid portion 48 is a different rigid portion 48 and a rigid center. It can be bent with respect to the portion 50. Providing a rigid portion 48 that is substantially flat while bending relative to other portions of the printed circuit 30 prevents damage to components such as component 32 while the printed circuit 30 is bent or deformed. It can be protected from wearing or being separated from the printed circuit (30).

FIG. 8 shows a side view of a partial cross section of an exemplary flexible battery of the type shown in FIG. 3. As shown in Figure 8, the flexible battery 34 can be designed to bend in a safe and repeatable manner under a bending force (indicated by arrows 52). In the example of FIG. 8, flexible battery 34 may include a segmented package of one or more battery cells, such as battery cells 60. Each of the battery cells 60 may be configured to store charge for the device 10. The battery cells 60 are each connected to a different battery cell 60 or of a device 10 such as a power management unit for delivering power to a component such as component 32 (see, for example, FIG. 3). It can be directly bonded to the component.

As shown in FIG. 8, the battery cell 60 can be attached using a flexible member 62. The flexible member 62 may be formed of plastic, silicon, or other elastomeric material. Each of the battery cells 60 may include a conductive structure such as a conductive anode and a cathode. In the battery cell 60, the conductive anode and the cathode may be separated by a separation layer.

The flexible member 62 may be configured such that the battery 34 can be bent in a bent state such as a bent state 64 under a bending force in the direction indicated by an arrow 52. The flexible member 62 may be configured to allow the flexible battery 34 to return to a substantially flat state as indicated by the dotted line 66. In the example of FIG. 8, the battery cell 60 may be a cylindrical battery cell.

9 is a plan view of a flexible battery of the type shown in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 8, the cylindrical battery cell 60 can be coupled using a flexible member 62. In the example of FIGS. 8 and 9, the flexible battery 34 is preferentially bent about an axis parallel to the cylindrical member 60. This is just an example. If desired, the flexible battery 34 can be configured to cause the flexible battery 34 to bend in multiple dimensions as shown in FIG. 10.

As shown in FIG. 10, the battery cell 60 may include one or more coin cells mounted on a sheet of flexible material such as a flexible sheet 74. The flexible sheet 74 may be formed of plastic, silicon or other flexible material. If desired, the flexible sheet 74 can be implemented using a flexible sheet of a substrate such as a polyimide sheet. In a configuration in which the battery 34 is formed of a coin cell on a flexible sheet, the coin cells can be connected using an interconnection 70. The coin cell 60 may be coupled to other device components such as a power management unit using a conductive connector 72.

Conductive connector 72 and conductive interconnect 70 may be formed of wires, twisted wire pairs, other wires, or may be formed from conductive traces of flexible sheet 74. The coin cells 60 may each include a conductive structure such as a conductive anode and a cathode. The conductive anode and cathode of the battery cell 60 may be separated by a dielectric separation layer. Providing the device 10 with a battery, such as a flexible battery 34 having a coin cell mounted on a flexible sheet, may provide flexibility in several dimensions for the battery 34 and device 10. . The example of FIG. 10 in which the flexible battery 34 is formed of a coin cell mounted on a flexible sheet is merely an example. If desired, the flexible battery may be formed with a lubricating separation layer (often referred to as a slip layer) that allows the battery 34 to bend, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

As shown in FIG. 11, the flexible battery 34 may include a layer of an electrode structure such as a layer 80. The layer 80 may include an anode electrode (A) and a cathode electrode (C), and a separation layer/electrolyte layer (S/E), respectively.

The cathode layer (C) may be attached to the upper surface of the separation layer, such as the separation layer/electrode layer (S/E). The anode layer (eg, the cathode layer) A may be attached to a lower surface in the opposite direction of the separation layer, such as the separation layer S/E. The layer of electrode structure 80 is typically thin (eg, 1 millimeter of moisture).

Battery 34 may include lithium-ion battery technology, battery technology such as lithium polymer battery technology, or other battery technology. In a configuration in which the battery 34 is implemented using lithium-ion battery technology, the positive electrode C, often referred to as the cathode, contains lithium, while the negative electrode A, often referred to as the anode, may contain carbon. .

In a configuration in which the battery 34 is implemented using lithium polymer battery technology, the positive electrode (C) and the negative electrode (A) may be laminated on the opposite side of the separation layer (S/E) formed of a polymer separation sheet, respectively. have. For example, a lithium polymer battery contains a positive electrode layer (C) formed of LiCoO2 or LiMnO4, a separation layer (S/E) formed of a polymer such as polyethylene oxide, and a compound of lithium or lithium and (for example) carbon. It may have a negative electrode layer (A) including. Other types of electrodes and separation layers can be used. These are only illustrative examples.

As shown in FIG. 11, the flexible battery 34 may include a lubricating separation layer such as a slip layer 82. The slip layer 82 may be disposed between electrode structures such as the battery layer 80. Providing a lubricating separating layer to the battery 34 helps the layer 80 to slide or slide relative to the other layer 80, thereby causing the battery 34 to bend. Lubricating the isolation layer 82 is polytetrafluoroethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (e.g., Teflon (Teflon ^®), or any other, may be formed of a suitable material. In FIG. 11, any other separation of the battery (34) The layer is a slip layer such as the slip layer 82. This is only an example. If desired, the separating layer (S/E) is lubricious, or all the second separating layers between the layers 82 are lubricious or , A single lubricating layer is provided, or other configurations are possible in which the battery 34 comprises a lubricating layer such as the layer 82.

The separation layer/electrolyte layer (S/E) may be an electrolyte gel or an electrolyte liquid that allows ions (eg, electrons, or other charged particles) to flow between the anode layers (C) and (A). For example, the lubricating separation layer can be formed of a non-permeable material that prevents the flow of ions such as electrons or other charged particles. The separation layer (S/E) and the lubrication separation layer 82 may be formed of a common material or may be formed of different materials. The slip layer 82 may be more slippery than the separating layer S/E of the electrode structure 80.

The electrode structure 80 may be sealed in a battery pouch such as a pouch 84. For example, the pouch 84 may be formed of a polymer that is lined with a metal such as aluminum.

In order to ensure that the battery 34 is formed with the electrode structure 80 having sufficient charge storage capacity, the size of the electrode structure 80 region may be several square centimeters (as in the example). Thereby it may be desirable to fold the electrode structure into a smaller shape. For example, it may be desirable to wrap the electrode structure in a shape of the type shown in FIG. 12.

This type of electrode configuration, often referred to as a jelly-roll shape, reduces the space in the battery and provides the battery with a size and shape that fits a typical device form factor. This type of electrode configuration can increase the flexibility of the battery 34 by including a lubricating layer such as layer 82 that provides the ability to slide between the layers 80.

As described above connected to FIG. 11, the layer 80 of the battery 34 may include a cathode layer (C), an anode layer (A), and a separation layer (S/E) separating the conductive layer. have. As shown in FIG. 12, the layer 80 can be separated from other layers 80 using a lubricating separation layer such as a slip layer 82. Providing the battery with a lubricating separating layer, such as the slip layer 82, may cause the battery 34 to bend under a bending force in the same direction as the directions 52 and/or 78.

If desired, additional lubricating material such as material 86 may be provided at the center of the packaging layer 80 of the battery 34. The additional lubricating material 86 can provide additional flexibility to the battery 34 by making the inner packaging layer 80 of the battery 34 more slippery. The lubricating material 86 may be formed of the same material as the material forming the slip layer 82 or may be formed of a material different from the material forming the slip layer 82.

In a configuration in which the flexible battery 34 comprises a wrapped cathode/anode/separation layer separated by a lubricating separating material such as a lubricating separating layer 82, the battery 34 is provided with a tab, such as a tab 76. Can be. The tab 76 may include a coupling member for mounting the battery 34 to a device structure such as the housing 12 or the cover layer 14C. Tab 76 may include a conductive connector for electrically coupling battery 34 to a power management unit or other device circuit such as printed circuit 30 (see FIG. 3 ). For example, the tab 76 may include an anode terminal connected to the cathode layer C of the layer 80 and a cathode terminal connected to the anode layer A of the layer 80. The packaging layer 80 of the battery 34 may be sealed in a pouch such as the outer film 84. The outer film 84 can be configured to provide a flexible packaging for the battery 34.

The example of FIG. 12 in which the layer 80 of the battery 34 is wrapped to form a jelly-roll battery is merely illustrative. If desired, layer 80 of battery 34 may be mounted on pouch 84 such that layer 80 forms an interlocking interface region as shown in FIG. 13. In the example of FIG. 13, an engagement interface area such as an engagement interface area 88 may be provided in which a portion of some of the layers 80 and a portion of another layer 80 are provided. Providing a partial engagement layer 80 to the battery 34 as shown in FIG. 13 may allow the bending of the battery in the interface area 88 due to the bending force as indicated by arrow 52. .

14 shows a side view of an exemplary flexible housing section of the type shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 14, housing 12 may include a segmented housing structure that includes a relatively rigid portion such as portion 90 and a relatively flexible portion such as portion 92.

The rigid portion 90 may be formed of plastic, glass, ceramic, fiber components, metal (eg, stainless steel, aluminum, etc.), textiles, silicone, other suitable materials, or combinations of these materials. The flexible portion 92 is a hinge or rotating member that attaches the rigid portion 90 to allow the rigid portion 90 to move relative to the other rigid portion 90 under a bending force as indicated by the arrow 52 It may include. This is just an example.

If desired, the flexible portion 92 comprises an elastomeric subagent disposed between the rigid portion 90, or an integral portion of the single housing structure 12 comprising the rigid portion 90 and the flexible portion 92. It may be formed of a relatively soft elastomeric material to form. For example, the flexible portion 92 may be formed of an elastomeric material such as an elastomeric foam, silicone, rubber, silicone rubber, a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) such as a thermoplastic polyurethane polymer, or the like.

The example of FIG. 14 is only an example. If desired, the flexible housing 12 may be formed of a single elastic polymeric structure, or may include a housing structure having various cross-sections to provide various resistance to bending as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.

15 shows a flexible sheet such as a flexible sheet 94 (e.g., a thin sheet of flexible plastic, fiber component, metal, fabric, silicone, other suitable material, or a combination of these materials), and a support structure ( A perspective view of a housing structure such as the housing 12 having a rigid support structure such as 96). The support structure 96 may be a relatively thick material such as carbon fiber, plastic, glass, ceramic, fiber component, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.), textile, silicone, other suitable material, or a combination of these materials. I can. For example, flexible sheet 94 can form a rear wall for device 10 (eg, rear wall 12R in FIG. 3 ). The flexible sheet 94 may allow bending of the housing 12 about an axis parallel to the y axis (indicated by arrows 98) shown in FIG. 15.

As shown in FIG. 16, the support structure 96 may be formed to extend along the dimension of the flexible sheet 94 along the y axis perpendicular to the x axis shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. Thereby support structure 96 can provide resistance to bending about an axis parallel to the x axis shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 (as indicated by arrows 99 ). Providing the flexible seat 94 and the support structure 96 in the housing 12 may provide preferential flexibility about an axis parallel to the longest dimension of the support structure 96. The flexibility of the support structure 96 may be less than that of the flexible sheet 94.

If desired, the housing 12 can be configured to have one or more stable configurations as shown in FIG. 17. In the example of FIG. 17, the housing 12 is formed in a double stable housing structure with two preferred states. As shown in FIG. 17, the housing 12 may have a stable state such as the state 100. When the housing 12 is in the state 100, it may be configured to remain in the state 100 when there is no external bending force.

A user of device 10 may exert a force on housing 12 in direction 102. The housing 12 may be configured to deform in response to the force of the direction 102 until it reaches the second stable position 104. When the housing 12 is in the state 104, it may be configured to remain in the state 104 when there is no external bending force. A user of device 10 may exert a force on device 10 in direction 106. The housing 12 may be configured to deform in response to the force of the direction 106 until it returns to the stable position 100.

Providing the device 10 with a housing, such as a housing 12 having one or more stable positions, will increase the ergonomic use of the device 10 while providing a stable position for placing the device 10 on a surface. I can. Providing device 10 with a housing, such as housing 12 with one or more stable positions, allows the user of device 10 to create an outer surface (e.g., state 100) that concaves the shape of display 14. It can be allowed to change from a shape having to a shape having a convex outer surface (eg, state 104). This is just an example. If desired, the housing 12 may have one or more stable positions, two or more stable positions, three or more stable positions, or may be continuously bent so that the device 10 can be bent in any state.

As shown in FIG. 18, housing 12 may include one or more multiple stabilization zones, such as zone 110. Region 110 may comprise a hinge or other bearing with a separate stable position, an elastomeric material attached to or integrated in another position of the housing 12, or patterned holes, bulges, protrusions. , Features for providing one or more stable positions in the opening or multiple stable portions 110. Providing the housing 12 with one or more multiple stabilization zones, such as zones 110, may cause portions such as the top 112, center 114 and bottom 116 to be bent into multiple stabilizing positions, respectively.

19 shows an exemplary portion of housing 12 in the vicinity of one of multiple stable regions 110. As shown in FIG. 19, multiple stable regions 110 of housing 12 may include one or more double stable protrusions, such as raised portions 113. The ridge 113 may be a double stable ridge having an external (ie, convex) stable position and an inner product (ie, concave) stable position. Bending the lower portion 116 as indicated by arrow 118 may cause the ridge 113 to “snap” into or “bump” out of the device 10. The housing 12 may be provided with a bent stable position in a configuration in which the bulge 113 enters inward and another bent stable position in a configuration in which the ridge 113 protrudes out of the device 10. This is just an example. If desired, the housing 12 may be configured to have a shape such that the double stable portion 110 is formed at any position along the length of the housing 12 as shown in FIG. 20.

20 shows a flexible sidewall portion 12S forming at least a portion of the sidewall for device 10 and a rear convex portion 12R providing a rear pavement having a dual stable position 110 on the device 10. A rear perspective view of a device having the same housing as housing 12. As shown in Fig. 20, the upper part 112 is bent from a substantially straight state such as state 128 (in the xy plane shown in Fig. 20) to a bent state such as a state 124 outside the xy plane. I can lose. Similarly, the lower part 116 may be bent from a substantially straight state such as state 122 in the x-y plane to a bent state such as state 120. The posterior convex surface 12R can provide the device 10 with a stable and straight configuration (ie, a configuration in which the top 112 and bottom 116 are in states 128 and 122, respectively, in the x-y plane). The posterior convex surface 12 is one or more multiple stabilizing portions (for example, states 124 and 120, respectively) that allow the top 112 and bottom 116 to bend out of the xy plane with respect to an axis parallel to the x axis. 110).

In order to provide the device 10 with the ability to bend the type shown in FIG. 20, the device 10 includes a top 112, a central portion 114 and a bottom 116 of the device 10 as shown in FIG. 21. A printed circuit 30 having a rigid portion such as a rigid portion 40 corresponding to) may be provided. As shown in FIG. 21, the rigid portion 40 may be connected to a flexible portion such as a flexible portion 42. The flexible portion 42 may be implemented using a flexible printed circuit or may be a flexible polymer to form a structural connection between the rigid portions 40.

If desired, the flexible portion 42 is a patterned conductive trace (e.g., polyether) that carries signals between the rigid portion 40, a component such as component 32, or other components of the device 10. Conductive traces on a flexible sheet of a substrate, such as a mid sheet). A device such as a device 10 with internal and external flexible components may be in an open state (e.g., to display information on a flat panel display), a closed state (e.g., turn off the device 10, or For storage, etc.), or bent to a partially open state.

As shown in FIG. 22, the flexible device 10 has an upper portion such that the upper portion of the display 14 on the upper portion 112 and lower portion 116 faces the display 14 of the central portion 114 of the device 10. (112) and the lower part 116 may have a closed state such as the closed state 121 in which it is folded. The closed state 121 can be used to store the device 10 (eg, in a pocket). Storing the device 10 in a closed state, such as the closed state 121 can protect the display 14 from scratches or other damage. Internal components, such as components 24 and 26, may include proximity sensors that detect when another of the components 24 and 26 is nearby or another portion of the display 14 is nearby. Internal components such as components 24 and 26 may be configured to change the operating state of device 10 based on proximity data collected by components 24 and/or 26 (e.g., When in the closed state 121, the device 10 is turned off or put into a sleep state or low energy state).

23, the flexible device 10 has a second portion, such as a portion 129 of the device 10, that is substantially flat while a first portion, such as the portion 126 of the device 10, is above. It may have a partially open state such as the state 123 that is bent toward the. Partially open state 123 is a surface (e.g., desk) while the user is viewing the display 14 (e.g., while the user is reading text, or viewing media or other visual output on the display 14). , Can be used to lay down the device 10 on a table or other surface). The partially open state 123 allows the user to display (e.g., while holding the device 10 in a state commonly used to hold books, magazines, newspapers or other printed matter) while holding the device 10 14) It can provide more ergonomic status for reading the characters on the top.

As shown in FIG. 24, the flexible device 10 may have a closed state such as a closed state 125 in which the device 10 is folded in half. The closed state 125 can be used to store the device 10 (eg, in a pocket). Storing device 10 in a closed state, such as closed state 120, can protect display 14 from scratches or other damage. Internal components, such as components 24 and 26, may include proximity sensors that detect when another of the components 24 and 26 is nearby or another portion of the display 14 is nearby. Internal components, such as components 24 and 26, can be configured to change the operating state of device 10 based on proximity data (e.g., shutting down device 10 when in closed state 125). Turn off or put it to sleep or low energy)

If desired, the housing 12 may be formed of a fabric or other extendable material and an internally configurable support structure as shown in FIG. 25. As shown in FIG. 25, the housing 12 may be configured to have multiple stable positions, such as states 130 and 132. State 132 may be a substantially flat state. Housing 12 may include an internally configurable support structure such as structure 140 that changes the external shape of the extendable housing 12 to create an additional stable position, such as state 130. In the example of FIG. 25, housing 12 is extended by an internally configurable support structure to form a stand that supports device 10 in a partially open state, such as state 130. The partially open state 130 places the device 10 down (e.g., on a desk, table or other surface) while supporting the device 10 with the elongated housing 12 and allows the user to It can provide many ergonomic conditions for reading text or viewing other media.

FIG. 26 shows a perspective view of a portion of an exemplary internally configurable support structure including an internal locking skeleton for changing the shape or flexibility of a housing 12 of the type described above in connection with FIG. 25. 26, a configurable support structure, such as configurable support structure 140, includes a locking hinge, such as a locking hinge 144, and a spine having one or more segmented arms, such as arm 146. 142). The locking hinge 144 may be configured to engage (eg, lock) when the skeleton 142 is twisted, pressed, stretched or manipulated.

The skeleton 142 is manipulated by twisting, squeezing, stretching, compressing or manipulating the housing 10 of the device 10 or based on user input to the device 10 (e.g., a button, The switch (using a switch such as FIG. 1), a touch-sensitive display, etc. can be operated mechanically or electrically. Arm 146 may each include one or more segments, such as segment 148. Segment 148 may include segments formed along a sidewall of the housing, segments formed along a rear portion of housing 12, and/or segments formed within other portions of housing 12.

The support 140 may be integrated in the housing 12 (eg, the housing 12 may be molded over the support 140) or may be attached to the housing 12. Combining the hinge 144 may couple the arm 146 in a rigid state. Releasing the hinge 144 may release the arm 146 so that the segment 148 can move independently. Thereby engaging and disengaging the hinge 144 can change the physical state of the device 10 from flexible to rigid and from rigid to flexible, respectively. This is just an example. If desired, the internally configurable support structure may be formed as an air, gas or liquid bag in a portion of the housing 12 as shown in FIG. 27.

FIG. 27 shows a side view of a cross-section of an exemplary internally configurable support structure including a pocket system for changing the shape or flexibility of a housing 12 of the type described above in connection with FIG. 25. As shown in FIG. 27, the internally configurable support structure 140 may include one or more pockets, such as cavity 150, within the housing 12.

Cavity 150 may be temporarily or permanently filled with air, fluid, gas, or other material such as material 152. Cavity 150 may be coupled to one or more channels 154 to transfer material 152 or remove material 152 from cavity 150. Filling the cavity 150 with material 152 may provide a rigid housing for the device 10 by causing the housing 12 to become rigid. Removing material 152 from cavity 150 may relieve pressure from within cavity 150 to allow housing 12 to become flexible.

The cavity 150 is based on a user input of the device 10 (e.g., using a button, a switch such as a switch 15 (Fig. 1), a touch-sensitive display, etc.) external mechanical manipulation of the housing 12 ( For example, compression or other manipulation of the housing 12 by the user of the device 10 ), mechanical or electrical pressure of the material 152 into the cavity 150 (e.g., the material ( Using an electric drive pump or other pressure regulating device to move 152). For example, in one configuration, the material 152 is pressed into the cavity 150 by a pressure regulating device to stiffen the housing 12 (e.g., to form a rigid support structure relative to the housing 12). Can be. In another configuration, material 152 can be depressurized in cavity 150 to cause housing 12 to deform. This is just an example.

If desired, cavity 150 may be partially filled with material 152 so that housing 12 can bend until material 152 fills the volume of cavity 150. For example, the flexibility of the housing 12 decreases during the deformation of the housing 12 due to an increase in pressure of the material 152 in the cavity 150, the compression of the cavity 150, and the deformation (bending) of the housing 12. can do. If desired, the cavity 150 may be a deformable cavity according to the shape of the user's hand or body (eg, while the device 10 is stored in a pocket). The deformable cavity can enhance the ergonomic features of the device 10.

Thereby filling and emptying the cavity 150 can change the physical state of the device 10 from flexible to rigid and rigid to flexible, respectively.

In accordance with an embodiment, a flexible electronic device is provided comprising a flexible housing formed of a deformable material, and a flexible display configured to bend with the flexible housing.

According to another embodiment, the flexible housing includes a flexible housing sidewall formed of the deformable material and a flexible rear housing wall formed of the deformable material.

According to another embodiment, the flexible electronic device also includes at least one flexible electronic component in the flexible housing, the flexible housing, the flexible display, and at least one of the flexible electronic component Is configured to allow the flexible electronic device to bend.

According to another embodiment, at least one said flexible electronic component comprises a flexible printed circuit.

According to another embodiment, at least one said flexible electronic component comprises a printed circuit board having at least one rigid portion and at least one flexible portion.

According to another embodiment, the at least one flexible electronic component comprises a rigid printed circuit board having an opening, a rigid central portion, and at least one additional rigid portion, the opening having the rigid central portion and at least one Formed at least partially between the additional rigid portions, the opening allowing at least one additional rigid portion to bend with respect to the rigid central portion.

According to another embodiment, the flexible electronic device also includes a first electronic component mounted on the rigid central portion and a second electronic component mounted on at least one additional rigid portion.

According to another embodiment, at least one said flexible electronic component comprises a flexible battery.

According to another embodiment, the flexible battery includes a plurality of cylindrical battery cells and a plurality of flexible portions.

According to another embodiment, the flexible battery includes a plurality of battery coin cells mounted on a flexible sheet.

According to another embodiment, the flexible battery includes a plurality of cathode layers, a plurality of anode layers, a plurality of separation layers each disposed between each one of the plurality of anode layers and each of the plurality of cathode layers, and the And at least one lubricating separation layer disposed between at least one of the plurality of cathode layers and at least one of the plurality of anode layers and being slippery than each of the plurality of separation layers.

According to another embodiment, the flexible electronic device also includes a battery pouch, wherein the plurality of cathode layers, the plurality of anode layers, the plurality of separation layers and at least one lubricating separation layer are in the pouch. To form a roll of.

According to another embodiment, the flexible housing includes a cavity and a fluid partially filling the cavity, the flexible housing having flexibility to allow the flexible electronic device to be deformed, the flexibility And a decrease during deformation of the flexible electronic device due to an increase in fluid pressure in the cavity during deformation of the flexible electronic device.

According to another embodiment, a flexible electronic device is provided comprising a flexible housing, a flexible display, a flexible battery, and a printed circuit having at least one flexible portion, wherein the flexible display, the flexible battery and The printed circuit is mounted within the flexible housing, and the flexible housing, the flexible display, the flexible battery, and the printed circuit are configured to allow deformation of at least a portion of the flexible electronic device.

According to another embodiment, the flexible electronic device also includes an internal component configured to sense the deformation.

According to another embodiment, the flexible electronic device also includes an additional internal component, wherein the additional internal component senses a distance between the additional internal component and the internal component and the distance is due to the deformation. It is configured to change the mode of operation of the flexible electronic device when it falls below a predetermined threshold.

According to another embodiment, the internal component comprises a switch, and the deformation of at least a portion of the flexible electronic device is in contact with the internal component by moving the portion of the flexible electronic device to operate the switch. Let it.

According to another embodiment, the flexible display includes a flexible display layer and a flexible touch sensing layer.

According to another embodiment, the flexible housing includes a flexible sheet having flexibility, and a support structure having a flexibility lower than that of the flexible sheet, the support structure being attached to the flexible sheet, It extends along one dimension of the flexible sheet to reduce bending about an axis running perpendicular to the dimension.

According to another embodiment, the flexible housing comprises multiple stable flexible housings having at least a first and a second stable position, and the deformation of at least a portion of the flexible electronic device is the second stable position in the first stable position. Deforms the flexible housing into a stable position.

According to one embodiment, there is provided an electronic device comprising a flexible display, a flexible housing, and a configurable support structure for the flexible housing, the configurable support structure comprising the configurable support structure being the flexible housing And a second configuration that allows the flexible housing to be deformed and a first configuration that allows forming a rigid support structure for the device.

According to another embodiment, the configurable support structure comprises a rigid spine, a locking hinge on the rigid skeleton, at least one segmented arm, and in the first configuration the locking hinge is locked In the second configuration, the locking hinge is released, and in the first configuration, at least one of the segmented arms is coupled in a rigid state by the locking hinge.

According to another embodiment, the configurable support structure comprises a plurality of cavities in the flexible housing, and a fluid in the plurality of cavities, and in the first configuration, the fluid is pressurized within the plurality of cavities, and the In a second configuration the fluid is depressurized within the cavity.

According to another embodiment, the electronic device also includes a switch that changes the configuration of the configurable support structure from the first configuration to the second configuration.

The above-described contents are merely examples of the principles of the present invention, and various modifications may be made by technicians of the related art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

10: device
12: flexible housing
14: flexible display
15: switch
16, 17: button
24, 26: interface components

Claims (20)

As an electronic device,
A foldable housing operable to be folded and unfolded-the foldable housing comprises first, second and third housing parts, the foldable housing being between the first and second housing parts. Configured to fold along a first fold axis and fold along a second fold axis between the second and third housing portions;
A touch sensor receiving a touch input;
A display overlapping the first, second and third housing portions;
A sensor that detects when the foldable housing is folded and unfolded; And
A processing circuit that turns on the display when the housing is unfolded and turns off the display when the housing is folded-the processing circuit in a folded position where the first portion of the display faces the other portion of the display. Adjusting the positions of the first, second and third housing parts relative to each other based on the touch input so that the foldable housing is placed in the (folded position)-
Electronic device comprising a. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the display comprises organic light emitting diode (OLED) pixels. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the display is folded in the first and second fold axes. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a flexible battery. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit that folds in first and second positions corresponding to the first and second fold axes, respectively. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the housing has adjustable flexibility. 7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the flexibility of the housing is adjusted in response to user input. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the user input comprises the touch input. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor comprises a flexible touch sensor. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first and third housing portions overlap the second housing portion when the housing is folded. As an electronic device,
A foldable display configured to be folded and unfolded, wherein the foldable display includes first and second display portions, the foldable display being bent along a fold axis between the first and second portions;
A housing including a first rigid portion supporting the first display portion and a second rigid portion supporting the second display portion;
A touch sensor sensing a touch input on the foldable display; And
Comprising a processor for adjusting the shape of the foldable display in response to the touch input so that the foldable display is placed in a folded position in which the first portion of the foldable display faces the second portion of the foldable display, Electronic device. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the touch sensor comprises a capacitive touch sensor. 12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the foldable display comprises organic light emitting diode (OLED) pixels. 12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the housing comprises a textile. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the processor adjusts the stiffness of the housing based on the touch input. As an electronic device,
Foldable display;
Foldable housing-the foldable housing and the foldable display are bent about a bending axis;
A touch sensor receiving a touch input; And
Processing of adjusting the shape of the foldable housing and the foldable display in response to the touch input so that the foldable display is placed in a folded position where the first part of the foldable display faces the second part of the foldable display Circuit
Containing, electronic device. 17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the foldable display and the foldable housing are bent about a further bending axis. 17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the foldable display comprises organic light emitting diode (OLED) pixels. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the touch sensor comprises a capacitive touch sensor. 20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the processing circuit is configured to adjust the flexibility of the housing in response to the touch input.

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